The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has extended an unprecedented offer to the United States: assist in driving out the powerful, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, and in return, the U.S. would gain direct access to Congo’s vast mineral resources. According to The Wall Street Journal, President Félix Tshisekedi made this proposal in a February letter to President Donald Trump, presenting a unique opportunity for both nations. The deal aligns with Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, while offering the U.S. access to essential minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, and tantalum—materials critical for high-tech industries including electric vehicles, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.
The Offer: Security for Resources
In his letter, Tshisekedi directly appealed to Trump’s vision of strengthening America’s economic and geopolitical influence. “Your election has ushered in the golden age for America,” he wrote, emphasizing that a partnership between the DRC and the U.S. would “provide the U.S. with a strategic advantage by securing critical minerals.” The proposal included opportunities for the newly established U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, an entity Trump had launched just days before receiving the letter, to invest in Congolese mining operations.
The letter also made clear that Congo’s request for assistance was not a general plea for aid, but rather a specific call for a “formal security pact” to help its military combat the M23 rebels. The Congolese army has suffered a series of humiliating defeats at the hands of M23, which has overrun key cities in the mineral-rich eastern region of the country. Tshisekedi’s letter did not outline the exact nature of the requested U.S. assistance, leaving open the question of whether he sought direct military intervention, weapons, intelligence support, or financial backing.
A spokeswoman for Tshisekedi confirmed the authenticity of the letter and emphasized the strategic importance of the proposal. “It is in both our interests that American companies—like Apple and Tesla—buy minerals direct from source in the DRC and unlock the engine of our mineral wealth for the benefit of all the world,” she said.
A War Rooted in History
The war in eastern Congo is a complex and deeply entrenched conflict, stretching back over three decades. It is, in many ways, a lingering consequence of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which ethnic Hutus massacred hundreds of thousands of Tutsis. After the genocide ended, Rwanda’s current president, Paul Kagame, led a Tutsi military force that overthrew the Hutu-led government. Many of the Hutu extremists responsible for the killings fled into Congo, where they reorganized into armed groups. Over the years, Rwanda has accused Congo of sheltering these groups, while Congo has repeatedly alleged that Rwanda has sponsored insurgencies to destabilize its government and seize its mineral wealth.
The M23 rebel group, predominantly composed of Tutsi fighters, claims to be defending the rights of Tutsis living in Congo, who it says are persecuted by the Congolese government. However, multiple reports, including a December 2024 United Nations panel of experts, have accused Kagame’s government of directly supporting M23. According to the U.N., Rwanda has dispatched at least 4,000 soldiers to assist M23 and has been smuggling vast quantities of minerals—especially coltan—out of the areas under the rebels’ control. Rwanda has denied these allegations, maintaining that its only interest in Congo is securing its borders.
Since early 2025, the fighting has intensified. M23 fighters have captured several key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, routing not only the Congolese army but also U.N. peacekeeping forces and foreign mercenaries. The Congolese military has struggled to mount an effective defense, plagued by corruption, inadequate training, and low morale. Reports indicate that some Congolese soldiers, earning as little as $100 a month, have deserted or surrendered rather than face battle-hardened M23 fighters. The conflict has led to over 8,000 deaths and displaced nearly 80,000 civilians in just a few months.
Global Reactions and Strategic Considerations
Tshisekedi’s offer to the Trump administration has ignited a debate about the role of the U.S. in international conflicts. Critics argue that the U.S. should not engage in military operations in exchange for economic benefits, warning that such an arrangement could set a dangerous precedent. Others see the proposal as an opportunity for strategic cooperation.
“The most likely scenario of such an agreement would be the U.S.’s provision of military equipment to the DRC as opposed to any direct troop support,” said Daniel van Dalen, a senior analyst at South Africa-based security intelligence firm Signal Risk. This approach would allow the U.S. to strengthen Congo’s defenses without direct involvement in the conflict.
American business leaders and policy analysts have also taken note. Yinka Adegoke, an Africa policy expert, highlighted the economic implications. “The U.S. has long been absent from Africa’s mineral wealth equation, allowing China to monopolize extraction and supply chains,” he said. “If structured responsibly, a minerals-for-security arrangement could boost economic ties and provide a more stable partner in Central Africa.”
A Financial and Diplomatic Boon
From an economic standpoint, increased U.S. engagement in Congo’s mining industry would reduce American dependence on China, which currently dominates the global supply of rare earth minerals. As Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently put it, lithium has become “the new oil,” underscoring its importance in the future of energy and technology. Direct access to Congo’s mines would benefit not only Tesla but also other U.S. firms reliant on battery technology, including Apple, General Motors, and Intel.
For the DRC, closer ties with the U.S. would provide a counterbalance to China’s outsized influence in its mining sector. Congo’s mineral wealth, estimated to be worth $24 trillion, has long been exploited by foreign interests with little benefit to its citizens. Tshisekedi’s administration sees a partnership with the U.S. as a way to secure better terms for its resources while bolstering its military capabilities against M23 and other armed groups.
A partnership with Congo could also improve America’s standing in Africa, a continent where China has made significant inroads through infrastructure investment and resource deals. Engaging with the DRC on a strategic level would send a strong signal that the U.S. is serious about building long-term economic and diplomatic relationships in Africa, rather than ceding influence to Beijing.
While the Trump administration has yet to formally respond to Tshisekedi’s proposal, discussions between Congolese and U.S. officials suggest that some form of collaboration is under consideration. The key question remains: What shape will U.S. assistance take? Full-scale military intervention seems unlikely, given domestic and international concerns, but logistical support, arms deals, and intelligence sharing could be viable options.
If a deal is reached, it could set a precedent for future U.S. involvement in Africa—not as a military enforcer but as an economic and strategic partner. The DRC’s offer presents both an opportunity and a challenge for U.S. policymakers, who must weigh the benefits of securing crucial minerals against the risks of deepening American involvement in a long-running and volatile conflict.
FAM Editor: This could have some other interesting repercussions. The cobalt mines in the DRC have been run by the Chinese, who apparently have allowed child labor to exist. The DRC has been attempting to change management on the mines, but China will not be happy about it.
But Africa (all of it not just the DRC) is all about tribalism, country borders mean very little. Involvement by the U.S. could end up being the worst decision since Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal.
